WASHINGTON — The Senate has ratified the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which aims to significantly improve access to mental health services for students in basic education, both public and private, across the nation.
According to Philippines News Agency, the bill’s author and sponsor, the bicameral conference committee report was approved on Wednesday. The legislation seeks to enhance the Department of Education’s (DepEd) existing mental health and guidance counseling program by establishing a comprehensive school-based mental health program. “This program seeks to promote and ensure the mental health and well-being of all learners in public and private basic education schools across the country,” Gatchalian emphasized.
The bill mandates the establishment of a Care Center in every public basic education school and ensures their maintenance in private schools as well. Each Care Center will be staffed by a school counselor and an associate, tasked with providing a range of services including screening, evaluation, crisis response, mental health literacy, emotional development programs, and additional support services to learners.
Furthermore, the legislation introduces new positions such as School Counselor I to IV, School Counselor Associate I to V, and Schools Division Counselor to address the current shortage of guidance counselors in public schools. Another significant provision includes the creation of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in every school division office, which will be led by a school division counselor who must be a registered guidance counselor or psychologist.
This landmark bill, once signed into law, will formalize structures to support the mental health and well-being of students, ensuring a robust framework for their care throughout the educational system.